Aug. 24--A doping case version of a plea bargain has made defrocked Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Liliya Shobukhova eligible to compete again now.
But don't expect to see the Russian in one of the world's top invitational marathons this fall -- or ever again.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors, governing organization for the Chicago, Boston, New York, Berlin, London and Tokyo marathons, has an unpublicized policy that bans for life anyone guilty of violating anti-doping rules from participating in the six races, according to AWMM general manager Tim Hadzima.
That does not exclude Shobukhova from competing in the 2016 Olympics, should a Russian Track Field Federation already awash in doping positives and allegations make the unlikely decision to include her on its team for the Rio Summer Games.
To regain her eligibility for Olympics, worlds and most sanctioned events other than the World Marathon Majors, she also would have to repay the money earned during the period the doping violation took place. In Shobukhova's case, that is a subtantial sum (see below.)
Shobukhova's willingness to provide evidence related to her case to the World Anti-Doping Agency led WADA to announce Monday it has shortened her suspension by seven months to two years, seven months. That suspension, begun Jan. 24, 2013, therefore ended Sunday.
"The information and documentation provided by Ms. Shobukhova has been of substantial value in uncovering and investigating anti-doping rule violations committed by other individuals, including athlete support personnel," WADA said in a statement.
According to the statement, Shobukova approached WADA in May 2014 with an offer to give the anti-doping agency "substantial assistance" after accepting the fact she had committed a doping offense.
In the Aug. 6 announcement of the punitive action it had taken against Shobukhova, the international track federation (IAAF) said its ban was to end March 23, 2016. The IAAF said Monday it "acknowledges" the WADA statement regarding the shorter ban.
The IAAF stripped Shobukhova, 37, of the Chicago Marathon titles she won in 2009, 2010 and 2011. She had been the only person to win three straight Chicago marathons.
The IAAF decision wiped out all Shobukhova's performances after Oct. 9, 2009, which included a first (2010) and second (2011) at the London Marathon.
It also affects the prize money she won, more than $1.5 million, during those years, including a $1 million bonus as winner of the World Marathon Majors Series in 2009-10. The AWMM and individual race directors are weighing whatever action may be necessary to get back as much of that money as possible.
